The bunkering vessel,    Huaihe Nengyuan Qihang, refuels the 23,000-TEU dual-fuel container ship    CMA CGM Jacques Saade at the COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry shipyard in Shanghai on June 20. [Photo/Chongming district media center]

The world's first river-sea liquefied natural gas bunkering vessel, Huaihe Nengyuan Qihang, refueled the 23,000-TEU dual-fuel container ship CMA CGM Jacques Saade at the COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry shipyard in Shanghai on June 20.

This marks China's first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation within a shipyard — a milestone that significantly reduces fueling time.

Since May 10, the CMA CGM Jacques Saade has been undergoing its first five-year special drydock inspection at the Changxing Island base of COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry. LNG tank cooling and refueling was the final phase of this overhaul.

Compared to conventional refueling via LNG tank trucks, the ship-to-ship operation enhanced efficiency and safety.

Following tank cooling, nearly 12,000 cubic meters of LNG were bunkered in just 12.5 hours. By contrast, the same task using tank trucks would require approximately 260 tankers operating continuously for six days, posing logistical risks related to cross-river transportation and fleet coordination.

Unlike traditional port bunkering, shipyards present unique safety challenges such as concentrated hot works like welding and cutting.

To ensure operational safety, the Chongming maritime safety administration implemented a tailored, full-cycle supervision framework, including a multi-layered monitoring system combining electronic surveillance, patrol vessels, and drones.

The operation marks a significant step forward, extending Shanghai Port's LNG bunkering services from terminals like Yangshan Port and Waigaoqiao Port to the industrial hub of Changxing Island. It pioneers a one-stop model that enables LNG refueling at the point of vessel delivery.

Source: Chongming district media center

english.shanghai.gov.cn